Development of Date Palm Cultivation and Its Role in Sustainability of Agriculture in Oman

Date palm agriculture in Oman presents a widespread, integrated ecological and agricultural system. It occupy around 84,500 feddan (35,000 ha), which is equivalent to more than eight million trees. Thus, the 1970’s, the Ministry of Agriculture has seek to improve the date palm production by conducting agricultural research, extension programs and financial support in the 1970’s. Limitation of water resources set a challenge for date palm production in the 1990’s. However, the production has been increased year later due to sustainability programs that the government enrolled in this sector such as implementation of new technological methods, including fertilization, insect control, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and disease. Not to be forgotten, the long term strategy for development.